Clay County AlArchives News.....Wagnon, Mr. Wm O. Talks about Rock Island Prison  October 8, 1917
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Linda Ayres http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00031.html#0007674 March 13, 2023, 2:28 pm

Anniston Star October 8, 1917
It was 1837 that William O. Wagnon was born in Newton County, Ga., almost in the 
shadow of the great stone mountain, whose granite head uplifts about the 
surrounding county a mile and a quarter high. He lived. later for a time, at its 
base, and has ascended to its summits on various occasions that he might take a 
look at the country around; he views being limited by the blue horizon that 
seemed to be encircled. 
He is 80 years old now and has seen many charges in the country and in the 
customs and manners of the people. Indeed, he has seen a great change in the 
great granite mountain mentioned above for when he was born it was practically 
undisturbed. Now thousands upon thousands of tons that majestic stone are being 
chiseled into building blocks and shipped to the uttermost parts of the country 
and utilized in the erection of magnificent structures or be used for other 
important purposes. It was not so then, but now, huge stones cut from is sides 
can be found in almost every city. 
And, what is more. It is now being utilized as a monument to the soldiers of the 
Confederacy, which is latest thought in Preserving for future generations, the 
valor of those old heroes. Wagnon is one of those and has pride in the knowledge 
that the great stone, one the marvels of the state and the entire Country, is 
thus being utilized.
In 1857 Mr. Wagnon bade adieu his native state and came to Alabama located in 
Fishhead valley in what was then Randolph County. He has lived in Alabama 
continuously since except during the Civil War when his home was wherever his 
hat was.
When he first saw Oxford, it was commonly called Lickskillet, there were only 
two stores there. He remembers seeing the setting of shade trees goin gon below 
L.B. Miller's store and along where Will Mellon lives. Where Oxford, Lake is now 
was known as McCulley's Springs. Mr. Wagnon joined; the thirtieth Alabama 
Regiment in 1862, and was seat with the western army into Tennessee, Kentucky: 
and later to Vicksburg. where during siege he almost starved for food.  After 
the surrender and parole of the confederates there, his next service was at 
Chattanooga, where he was taken prisoner and sent to Rock Island for 18 months. 
Here, Mr. Wagnon say, his Vicksburg experience paled into, insignificant. All 
the prisoners suffered the pangs of hunger. "I saw prisoners there kill and eat 
dog. I did not eat any of it, Sam McCullough, who died a few years ago at Delta, 
did eat the dog meat, because he was almost starved" Mr. Wagnon said. 
In the Rock Island prison, Mr. Wagnon remained until the close of the war. He 
was then paroled and sent home, transpiration being furnished all the way to 
Oxford; He says he was glad to get home and that the war was at an end. and, 
more than that he was thankful that notwithstanding having passed through the 
fire he was uninjured. "The Lord was good to me and protected me" he said.
He joined the church in 1868 since which time he says he tried to live a 
Christian life............

Additional Comments:
Pension Records:
Name:  Wagnon, W. O.
Enlistment Date:  1862/03/19
Enlistment Information:  Alabama, Culifana, Private [CHULAFINNEE]
Discharge Date:  1865/03/19
Regiment:  30th Alabama Regiment
Company:  G
Pension:  Yes
Comments:  Witnesses J. F. Thrower, J. F. Stovall
Source:  Alabama Pension number 25426, Calhoun County

Name:  McCullough, Samuel Martin
Date of Birth:  1823/04/20
Birth Information:  USA, South Carolina, Anderson District
Enlistment Date:  1863/11/00
Enlistment Information:  Alabama, Demopolis, Private
Engagements:  Captured near Ringold, Georgia in 1863 (Nov) and was paroled from 
Rock Island, Ill. Prison, in April 1865.
Branch:  Infantry
Regiment:  31st Alabama Regiment
Company:  H
Comments:  Address 1907-8 Delta, Alabama.
Source:  Census, Tax Collector, Clay County, Alabama 1907-08

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